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Life as Art

How our world shapes who we are and how who we are shapes our world

Wisdom
More On Creating Your Living Message

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on April 19, 2020

In the chaos of today's uncertain world, finding and sharing positive wisdom in creative ways is more important than ever.

In the chaos of today's uncertain world, finding and sharing positive wisdom in creative ways is more important than ever.

Creativity
Creativity and Mothers

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on May 12, 2019

Motherhood may delay some Big C creative accomplishments for creative females, but the the overall creativity that mothers provide is powerfully beneficial to society.

Motherhood may delay some Big C creative accomplishments for creative females, but the the overall creativity that mothers provide is powerfully beneficial to society.

Creativity
Creativity and the Art of Annoyance

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on July 10, 2013

Where do “creative people” get their original ideas? Keep an "Annoyance List." The goal is to then convert things that stress and annoy you into creative opportunities.

Where do “creative people” get their original ideas? Keep an "Annoyance List." The goal is to then convert things that stress and annoy you into creative opportunities.

Health
From Tragedy to Art Part II

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on November 25, 2012

More than 150 studies have demonstrated the physical and mental health benefits of expressive and narrative writing. Writing is an art form that can help you make meaning out of negative life events and open up the dark areas of the mind to reveal the rich tapestry that is your life.




More than 150 studies have demonstrated the physical and mental health benefits of expressive and narrative writing. Writing is an art form that can help you make meaning out of negative life events and open up the dark areas of the mind to reveal the rich tapestry that is your life.




Creativity
The New Year, Time Travel, and the Essence of Creativity

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on January 2, 2011

For many years I have practiced a New Year's tradition. Very late on New Year's Eve, after the festivities of the night are over and the rest of the merry-makers have retired to their champagne-inspired dreams, I settle in to watch one of my favorite movies dating back to childhood. I do this to usher in the New Year with a creativity-stimulating exercise.

For many years I have practiced a New Year's tradition. Very late on New Year's Eve, after the festivities of the night are over and the rest of the merry-makers have retired to their champagne-inspired dreams, I settle in to watch one of my favorite movies dating back to childhood. I do this to usher in the New Year with a creativity-stimulating exercise.

Career
Plagiarism and Its Effect on Creative Work

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on October 16, 2010

Even though the fall semester is still relatively young, my teaching staff and I have already discovered several instances of student plagiarism. This may, of course, be due to the fact that instructors are better able to detect plagiarism now (with search engines and computer programs that compare writing samples to other available work)...

Even though the fall semester is still relatively young, my teaching staff and I have already discovered several instances of student plagiarism. This may, of course, be due to the fact that instructors are better able to detect plagiarism now (with search engines and computer programs that compare writing samples to other available work)...

Behaviorism
The Dark Side of Creativity: Uses of Animals in Warfare

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on July 14, 2010

 Descriptions of monkey terrorists trained by the Taliban to shoot U.S. Military Members by identifying their uniforms are all over the internet this week. Fortunately the claims of monkey mercenaries appear to be only web-based monkeyshines! But if these claims were true, could we count this monkey business as an example of the dark side of the creativity?

 Descriptions of monkey terrorists trained by the Taliban to shoot U.S. Military Members by identifying their uniforms are all over the internet this week. Fortunately the claims of monkey mercenaries appear to be only web-based monkeyshines! But if these claims were true, could we count this monkey business as an example of the dark side of the creativity?

Creativity
Zen of the Art of Grocery Shopping

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on July 5, 2010

 The Fourth of July holiday is a great opportunity to reflect on the abundance - of both opportunities and products - afforded by the American way of life. All too often we take this abundance for granted. Here's an example from my own life:

 The Fourth of July holiday is a great opportunity to reflect on the abundance - of both opportunities and products - afforded by the American way of life. All too often we take this abundance for granted. Here's an example from my own life:

Suicide
From Tragedy to Art: Meaning-Making, Personal Narrative, and Life’s Adversities

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on June 18, 2010

I recently finished reading Dr. Nancy Rappaport's excellent book In Her Wake, and it reminded me once again that our lives are works of art - or at least they can be works of art if we choose to make them so.

I recently finished reading Dr. Nancy Rappaport's excellent book In Her Wake, and it reminded me once again that our lives are works of art - or at least they can be works of art if we choose to make them so.

Gratitude
Memorial Day and Commencement: Honoring the Past and Future of America

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on May 31, 2010

Memorial Day is our national day of gratitude to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. This day is a way of officially saying "thank you" to those Americans who have died to protect our freedoms and our way of life. Most of those who have given their lives have been young - about the same age as the college grads who are currently celebrating their commencement.  

Memorial Day is our national day of gratitude to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. This day is a way of officially saying "thank you" to those Americans who have died to protect our freedoms and our way of life. Most of those who have given their lives have been young - about the same age as the college grads who are currently celebrating their commencement.  

Media
Hollywood Portrayal of Thinness, Success, and Butter

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on August 16, 2009

Anorexia Nervosa is great American tragedy. It's the most deadly of psychiatric illnesses, killing almost 20% of those afflicted. Media portrayal of unhealthy thinness as the ideal of feminine beauty is one (but certainly not the only) contributing factor to this devastating illness. That's why it's so refreshing to see Hollywood offer us a glamorous, oversized, butter-eating role model. 

Anorexia Nervosa is great American tragedy. It's the most deadly of psychiatric illnesses, killing almost 20% of those afflicted. Media portrayal of unhealthy thinness as the ideal of feminine beauty is one (but certainly not the only) contributing factor to this devastating illness. That's why it's so refreshing to see Hollywood offer us a glamorous, oversized, butter-eating role model. 

Creativity
Novelty-Seeking, Hospital Beds, and the Spirit of Exploration

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on July 20, 2009

 It is 8 pm EDT on July, 20, 1969. Anticipation and excitement grip the nation. Sometime within the next few hours, the hatch of a small vehicle will open and history will be made.

 It is 8 pm EDT on July, 20, 1969. Anticipation and excitement grip the nation. Sometime within the next few hours, the hatch of a small vehicle will open and history will be made.

Aging
Creativity and the Aging Brain

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on March 30, 2009

The aging brain resembles the creative brain in several ways. For instance, the aging brain is more distractible and somewhat more disinhibited than the younger brain (so is the creative brain). Aging brains score better on tests of crystallized IQ (and creative brains use crystallized knowledge to make novel and original associations). These changes in the aging brain may make it ideally suited to accomplish work in a number of creative domains. So instead of promoting retirement at age 65, perhaps we as a society should be promoting transition at age 65: transition into a creative field where our growing resource of individuals with aging brains can preserve their wisdom in culturally-valued works of art, music, or writing.

The aging brain resembles the creative brain in several ways. For instance, the aging brain is more distractible and somewhat more disinhibited than the younger brain (so is the creative brain). Aging brains score better on tests of crystallized IQ (and creative brains use crystallized knowledge to make novel and original associations). These changes in the aging brain may make it ideally suited to accomplish work in a number of creative domains. So instead of promoting retirement at age 65, perhaps we as a society should be promoting transition at age 65: transition into a creative field where our growing resource of individuals with aging brains can preserve their wisdom in culturally-valued works of art, music, or writing.

Resilience
How Do You Keep On Playing When You Know the Game Is Lost?

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on November 8, 2008

This has been a week for great victories and great defeats. I'd like to muse on the defeat side of the issue for a few minutes. Like millions of Americans I watched both John McCain's gracious concession speech and Barack Obama's eloquent victory speech. The speeches of both men on this historic night brought me to tears.

This has been a week for great victories and great defeats. I'd like to muse on the defeat side of the issue for a few minutes. Like millions of Americans I watched both John McCain's gracious concession speech and Barack Obama's eloquent victory speech. The speeches of both men on this historic night brought me to tears.

Behavioral Economics
The Good Side of the Bad Economy

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on October 8, 2008

Several generations of Americans, from the Baby Boomers through the X and Y Generations, have grown up in a state of mind called the “more” mentality. Coincidentally (or not), the rate of depression has increased with every generation from the Baby Boomers on.

Several generations of Americans, from the Baby Boomers through the X and Y Generations, have grown up in a state of mind called the “more” mentality. Coincidentally (or not), the rate of depression has increased with every generation from the Baby Boomers on.

Sport and Competition
Sports Grief, Roller Coasters, and Sarah Palin

Shelley H Carson Ph.D. on September 9, 2008

It’s a dull ache in the throat and stomach, accompanied by a sudden sinking feeling. I started noticing these physical symptoms of melancholy last week but couldn’t put my finger on the cause until I reread a Psychology Today blog on Sports Grief by colleague Steven Kotler that first appeared on June 25th. Then I realized that my symptoms coincided with the onset of the NFL season…

It’s a dull ache in the throat and stomach, accompanied by a sudden sinking feeling. I started noticing these physical symptoms of melancholy last week but couldn’t put my finger on the cause until I reread a Psychology Today blog on Sports Grief by colleague Steven Kotler that first appeared on June 25th. Then I realized that my symptoms coincided with the onset of the NFL season…